Category: Local News
Northwest Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Charges
A Stanberry man will spend at least 15 years in prison for producing and possessing child pornography.
U.S. Attorney David Ketchmark announced Tuesday 34-year-old Jeffrey Dale Wiederholt of Stanberry pleaded guilty to the charges and will face at least 15 years in federal prison.
Wiederholt pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to produce child pornography, one count of transporting child pornography and one court of receiving child pornography.
Federal agents learned he was actively trading the child porn in August of 2010 when he was caught trading the pornography with another person targeted by the Air Force office of Special Investigations.
Upon an investigation including email and web records, federal agents believed he produced the material.
He pleaded guilty to producing child pornography with a child less than 12 years old. Investigators also found a photo on his cell-phone he confessed to producing the material on December 29 of 2010.
The investigation found more than 1,000 images and 33 video files of child pornography on his computer. He had sent much of the material to others via email.
(Video) Student In Government Day
About 75 students from all five St Joseph High Schools are taking part today in “Student in Government Day.” The city’s Public Information Officer Mary Robertson tells us they get a general view of city operations, and then they get more specific.
“They’re seeing a canine demonstration by Officer Matt Kneib with the police department,” Robertson said.
“They see what all of our capital expenditures, what that money goes to every year. They explore the fire department trucks, the police vehicles, the public works vehicles. Then they will spend about an hour and a half shadowing different department directors, and that’s where they’ll learn more about that specific department that they have chosen, that they want to learn more about.”
To wrap it up, Robertson says they take part in a mock council meeting on subjects they’ve chosen to debate.
This is the 17th year for the project here in St Joe.
(Update) Maryville Man, 82, Arraigned For Child Molestation
An 82-year-old Maryville man was arraigned Tuesday on charges of fondling the 14-year-old granddaughter of his girlfriend.
Lawrence King is being held under five-thousand dollars bond on one misdemeanor count of second degree child molestation. If he is released, King has been ordered not to reside in the same home or come within one hundred feet of the victim, who was identified in court documents by her initials.
Officials say King lived in the same house with the victim, her mother and grandmother.
An affidavit indicates that King has admitted touching the victim inappropriately when she was in his bedroom getting candy.
My Success to Attract More than 2,000 Students
More than 25-hundred high school sophomores from across Northwest Missouri will flock to the Saint Joseph Civic Arena Wednesday and Thursday. It’s the sixth annual My Success event to let students know what sort of jobs are waiting for them.
More than 90 businesses along with 13 colleges and technical schools will outline their needs and answer questions from students. My Success runs from 8 am to 2:30 pm each day.
Missouri Right to Life Warns of Obamacare Dangers
The President of Missouri Right to Life tells students and residents in Saint Joseph that Obamacare should be repealed. Pam Fichter says a contraceptive mandate in the bill attacks a fundamental right recognized in the constitution: freedom of religion.
Fichter says there are at least 25-hundred provisions in Obamacare that mandate actions violating religious convictions. She urged students at Missouri Western Monday afternoon and residents meeting Monday evening at the East Hills Library to elect candidates who will repeal Obamacare.
Gas Prices Tumble
Gas prices have dropped about thirty cents per gallon in the last three weeks across St Joseph.
Tuesday morning in St Joe, prices ranged from $3.42 to $3.49 per gallon, according to AAA.
Nationwide, prices averaged just over $3.77 per gallon, down a cent and a half on the day, more than four cents for the week, and down nine cents from a month ago. (Click here for more from AAA)
The statewide average in Missouri is just over $3.51. In Kansas, that average is $3.62 per gallon.
Weekly Crop Progress Report
Missouri Crop Progress and Condition
Agricultural Summary
General rainfall across the State limited farmers to 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Although every district averaged over an inch of precipitation, nearly 850,000 acres of soybeans were harvested. Topsoil moisture supply improved to 21 percent very short, 26 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was 51 percent very short, 32 percent short, and 17 percent adequate. Ground worked fall tillage was 46 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 19 days ahead of normal.
Field Crops Report
Corn harvested was 95 percent, 14 days ahead of last year, and 48 days ahead of normal. Soybeans turning color and beyond were 96 percent, 4 days behind last year, but same as normal. Soybeans dropping leaves and beyond were 86 percent, 1 day behind last year, but 2 days ahead of normal. Soybeans mature were 66 percent, 3 days behind last year, and 1 day behind normal. Soybeans harvested were 36 percent, 5 days behind last year, and 1 day behind normal. Soybean condition was 30 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 11 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Cotton harvested was 47 percent, 1 day behind last year, and 2 days behind normal. Cotton condition was 10 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 29 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Rice harvested was 94 percent, 15 days ahead of last year and 18 days ahead of normal. Sorghum turning color and beyond was 96 percent, 14 days behind last year, and 7 days behind normal. Sorghum mature was 74 percent, 9 days behind last year, and 7 days behind normal. Sorghum harvested was 45 percent, 4 days behind last year, and 2 days behind normal. Sorghum condition was 20 percent very poor, 36 percent poor, 33 percent fair, and 11 percent good. Winter wheat planted was 41 percent, 3 days ahead of last year and 5 days ahead of normal. Winter wheat emergence was 19 percent, 5 days ahead of last year and normal.
Pasture & Livestock
Pasture condition continue to improved from fall rains to 41 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 8 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Supply of hay and other roughages was 54 percent very short, 31 percent short, and 15 percent adequate. Stock water supplies were 49 percent very short, 31 percent short, and 20 percent adequate.
Weather Summary
Temperatures were 1 to 4 degrees below average. Precipitation averaged 1.67 inches statewide. The southwest district averaged 3.57 inches with McDonald County reporting 6.13 inches.
(UPDATE) Maryville Missing Children Found
A Maryville family had a brief scare Monday evening when three children didn’t return home.
The three children, who had the day off from school, were heading to a home nearby their house Monday afternoon but never returned.
The children left home around 3:30 and the family became worried and started looking the kids around 4:30. They contacted Maryville Public Safety whose officers were able to locate the children around 7:30 pm. The department sent a text-message alert to residents around 7:00 p.m.
The children were described as a 14-year-old girl, a 12-year-old boy and a nine-year-old boy.
The children left their home in the area of Thompson and Saunders Streets in Maryville around 3:30 Monday afternoon to head to a home nearby to see either chickens or turkeys in their yard, according to police.
Public Safety Director Keith Wood said there is no reason to believe the children were in any danger.
Health Department Clinic Hours Limited Tuesday
Service hours for the St Joseph Health Department are limited Tuesday for staff training.
The St Joseph Health Department Clinic will not have clinic services Tuesday afternoon.
The last appointment of the day will be at 11:00 am for immunizations, prenatal case management, pregnancy testing, lead testing and TB services. All other health department services, including WIC, STD testing and vital record will be available and all services will be back to normal Wednesday.
The clinic staff is attending professional development training in the afternoon.